People

The Institute Council 

Membership to the Auckland Museum Institute allows participation in the business of the Institute and the Museum for those who wish deeper involvement.  The Institute Council is elected by members and announced at the Annual General Meeting each November (apart from the two Councilors serving as Staff Representatives who are selected by Museum Staff).  Council members serve a two year term for a maximum of three terms.  Apart from involvement in Institute membership and Institute programming, the Council also forms an Electoral College for Auckland Museum and appoints four of the ten members of the Auckland Museum Trust Board.

Institute Council Members - until November 2008

Michael Rowe - Council President, Finance Committee Mike is Managing Director of Arthur N. Rowe Ltd and has been Institute Council President for five years. Prior to this role, Mike served on the New Zealand Red Cross; Nothern Regional Board (Chair 96-99) and NZ Red Cross National Board. Mike lives on lifestyle block with his partner Sandy where they run thirty Coopworth ewes and four horses. His interests include boating and fly fishing. He has four grown up children.

Eric Keys - Council Vice-President, Finance Committee Eric was educated at Auckland University and graduated with a B.A and A.C.I.S. He is also a Justice of the Peace. Eric has a background in management and accounting in both commercial and not-for-profit organizations, having worked for Shell Oil N.Z.Ltd, CSR Ltd and the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand, where he was CEO for 23 years. In that time he was also Secretary of the World Real Estate Federation, Asia Pacific Region. He is a member of Rotary, Northern Regional Chairman and National Board member of the J.R.McKenzie Trust and a board member of several charitable trusts in Auckland

John Duder - Programme Committee John, BE (Civil), FIPENZ, AMICE (UK), ONZM is a Civil Consulting Engineer with over 40 years experience in New Zealand and overseas. John has been a Museum Trust Board member and was also on the Devonport Community Board. He is a keen sailor, and served the Spirit of Adventure Trust for over 30 years as a Trustee and deck officer. Now retired from Tonkin and Taylor Ltd after 35 years, John is an active Rotarian with interests in marine and engineering history, a keen choral and instrumental musician , and father of four daughters, one granddaughter and one grandson.

James Frater - Finance Committee Jim, BSc BCom (Auckland), CA, is a semi-retired Chartered Accountant whose work experience in the last 30 years has been in the accounting/company secretarial departments of Stock Exchange-listed public companies. His professional career has given him a good knowledge of governance matters and he also has a strong interest in natural history and conservation issues, with a family property in Northland being partially covenanted with the Queen Elizabeth 2 National Trust. He is active in outdoor activities including boating, tramping and skiing and has been a member of the Institute for over 30 years. He is also involved in his local community including the Anglican Church.

Dr Jennifer Hand - Programme Committee Jennifer is a sociologist who has published widely on health and social issues, most notably in the transformation of public space by marginalized people in New York City, domestic violence, and gambling in Pacific communities. Currently, she teaches at the School of Population Health, University of Auckland, has a consultancy business providing advice, evaluation, urban design and strategic planning services to government and local authorities and offers advice, planting and weeding skills to neighbourhood gardening and food groups.

Philip Heath - Chairman Programme Committee Philip is an Industrial Designer who has been practicing for some 26 years. He has a Masters Degree in Design Management and is Director of Heath Associates Ltd, a design consultancy which specialises in product, graphic, interior, exhibition and design management. He has been Chairman of the Institute’s LS/Programme Committee for the past two years.

Jennifer Lamm - Chairman Membership Committee Jennifer is a solicitor currently with Auckland Regional Public Health Service. A Life Member of the Auckland Museum Institute, she has been a member of the Institute Council since November 2006. Jennifer has also served on the Auckland Museum Trust Board from 2000 to 2006, and previously served on the Auckland Institute and Museum Council. Jennifer has a special interest in the law relating to cultural property, and has recently completed a LLM thesis on this topic at the University of Sydney.

Roger McElroy - Programme Committee Roger holds qualifications in mathematics and in education. He has a marketing background in multinational commerce in the chemical industry, and in secondary school teaching of mathematics and physics. He is trained in public and private sector management, and served as General Manager of the Otago Education Board and as Manager National Operations for the Ministry of Education. More recently he has been involved in long term strategic planning for the siting and development of new primary and secondary schools to meet expected population growth in the wider Auckland area. He has a long-held interest in the work of local and national museums and their educational and research role relevant to their communities.

Allan Mutch - Membership Committee Allan has had an extensive career in the telecommunication industry. His experience ranged from Technician to Manager, including training and project management. He is currently using his skills in security and building management as the High Court Custodian. Allan’s main hobby involves guiding and informing visitors at Auckland Museum, as a week-end volunteer.

Rae Nield Rae has Masters degrees in Science and Jurisprudence as well as a postgraduate diploma in librarianship. After a business career ranging from information services to sales, marketing and general management roles, she studied law and has since worked as a commercial lawyer. Rae has her own practice specialising in the law applying to the distribution and marketing of goods and services. She works with traders throughout the supply chain. Since 1985, Rae has been a regular submitter to Parliamentary Select Committees on law changes which affect businesses and consumers.

Owen Ormsby - Chairman Provincial Outreach Committee Owen is an academic and tourism Industry practitioner with an interest in the training of Maori and Pacific Island youth into travel, tourism and hospitality careers. Owen is also an historian and genealogist. Other interests include business in rural communities and the relationship of the rural to the urban community. He is particularly engaged in work to bring urban and rural communities together.

Sam Rahui - Membership Committee Sam is of Ngapuhi and Ngati Whatua descent. He has had a military career, serving for 20 years in the Regular Force of the New Zealand Army from May 1966 until September 1986 including a Tour of Duty to South Vietnam with Victor Company from May 1970 to May 1971. He opted for retirement on completion of his 20 years service. Sam has previously served on the Institute Council dealing with the membership portfolio but stepped down to pursue a Law Degree at the University of Auckland graduating with the degree in 2008.

Bruce Ralston, Staff Representative Auckland Museum Library & Information Services Manager

Dr Jessie Costa - Programme Committee Jessie is not an elected Council member but has been co-opted onto the Programme Committee to help co-ordinate the Institute's Cafe Scientifique/Humanities programme. She is a research fellow in the Department of Medicine at the University of Auckland. Her basic science research has focused on the impact of adipose-related hormones on lipid and sugar metabolism as well as bone development. She is also interested in the effects of dietary content on bone cell function. Jessie has a keen interest in improving communication of scientific subjects to the public, and strengthening links between the scientific and non-scientific communities.

Alison Barnett - Institute Manager Alison is the Institute Manager.

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Council President, Mike Rowe, speaking to Institute members at an exhibition opening.